Means for applying metal foil to paper in strip form



1951 P. A. SPORING ETAL 2,569,785

MEANS FOR APPLYING METAL FOIL T0 PAPER IN STRIP FORM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1948 2, 1951 P A. SPORING ET AL 2,569,785

MEANS; FOR APPLYING METAL FOIL TO PAPER IN STRIP FORM Filed Jan. 16, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG: 4 37 INVEN TORS' R A.sPoR//vc a P OHNSON W MEANS Filed Jan. 16, 1948 P A. SPORING EI'AL FOR APPLYING METAL FOIL TO PAPER IN STRIP FORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 39 22 24 W Z r-1 m m I I FLM fii r h F G 5, 1 i --19 -26 H 7 54 L l 7L 47 il 37/ L/n Patented Oct. 2, 1951 2,569,785 MEANS FOR APPLYING METAL Fern TO PAPER 1N s'r uP'F Percy Archibald Sporing, Hampton Hill, and Charles Piercy Johnson, Hanwell, England pp ication January 16, 19 8; ser al Noll/ism Iii Great Britain June 12, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8,1946 Pa ent e ire J se 1-2 11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to means for applying metal foil to pape er other insulating material in strip form (referred to hereafter in this specification and claims comprehensively as paper strip) such a combination being especially, although not necessarily exclusively, applicable in the manufacture of capacitors. In using a composite strip of this nature, it is frequently desired that, while the paper strip shall be continuous, the metal foil applied to it shall be in predetermined lengthsseparated by gaps. It is the main object of the present invention to produce such a composite strip from rolls of paper strip and of metal strip by a continuous operation.

According to the invention, there is applied to a continuously fed paper strip a strip or" metal foil wound off from a roll, rotation of this roll being arrested. when a predetermined length of metal foil has been wound off whereby the metal foil is severed, such stoppage being maintained over a sufiicient periodof time to produce the required gap between successive lengths of foil applied to the paper strip. The mostconvenient way of effecting periodical stoppage of the roll of metal foil is by mounting it between two plates which are in proximity to the sides of the roll, but, when the latter is required to rotate to feed the foil, do not touch it. When, however, it is desired to stop the unwinding .of the metal foil so that it is severed, one of the plates is moved toward the other so that the coil is gripped between them and the required stoppage thereby efiected.

This lateral movemet of ,one of the side plates is most readily carried out by means of a solenoid which is periodically excited to attract an armature and hold it in its attracted position during a period of time wherein the paper strip travels over a distance equal to the desired gap between the strips of foil applied to it. The solemold is then .de-energized, the roll of foil released and application .of a fresh length of foil to the paperstr-ip commences. The required periodic excitation of the solenoid is most QOhveniently effected by causingthe composite strip to co-operate with an electrical contact, the positio cf which is d ustab e re ativ ly t t at of the roll of metal foil. Thus, as a length of foil is applied to the strip, ittravels toward this contact, and as soon as it establishes electrical contact therewith the solenoid is excited, the roll .of foil is gripped thereby severing the foil at the point at which ithas just comeintocontactwith the paper strip, and further feeding of the foil is prevented during the predetermined period .in

order o Pm se the izu sd ga et en s e s vs l n t s c ih l- Ultima l h s l noid aving b n ds snsrs sed swi to t q m i h f h esp e r9 :0; m ta hzi i e e nd a ,fnesh length a cle O pe at phshsihs t en, eated.

Af r pass e the ab ele t ic l c t ct he om h i s st ,p ,is wound .91 to a l dihg fi r 1; bot hi r l an a sell r l er wh h th ans: t p i w und t th Pbiht a wh c th metal oi s a pl ed to i be phs t l dri hh arrang m n i u h hat the m mbe on hith the winding-oif roll is mounted is of app oxime ly h same d amete and is ,dr lvsh oug a l p n lutch. i hs af an th am s e d s the above rqllsr-lqsat d. t th metal f i r l e w n ihepfi mi b ing fi t d aro d t b v em er the rad u at which th som te t ip .is wound on to hi hecsssa ilyersa sr t an a of th pl sr at the Ins l me n the somPQ i stri main ed in t a s hem ms-taliofl t t e Windin -sh roll; the slipping clutch incprporated in the drive f h atter makes a owance Io h dif sr s in p ip s sp d b twe n the wo r en members w h w u d thsr-w sehspreseht n r er tha the :hisy h le y un s toss nd readil ca ri d in o e i ct it will n w be scrih dxm rs hil y h sis sh o ccompan n dr w ngs-WE i lh t t hns q h o mach ne in a c rdance thsrsi i and whereini Fi ures 1 and .2 a e es ect ve s d and lan view o he machine,

F ur 31s a an r er- 9 e larged s a s f th m a I0 1 rol and t i m an or qht ollihs igure ,4 ,i adia na h s -cenhs t o F ure i a fra menta p an vi showi another po i i n of the se ar tes in F shes .3

a d by th seismic ac i n w ex i e and i ure 6 and i are .respeetively side and plan iew of th adihs a le hhhta tine membe lf n- ':ll se rolls are reyqlubly mountedin eui ab ssupno tfi imprin e -91 a ba s q -hss lplais 4 which also serves to support the lothert elements o h ap atu th insu atin 0i th rol s 1 MMSiQQS ehsohs thtsafie t rs c th .n ssm nvention "an "w l ne *thsreiere be fu he r e d its the ape str p, h

scribed, except to state that the spool or the like on which each roll is mounted is provided with braking mechanism so as to ensure that, as the paper strip is wound off from each roller, it is maintained taut. The paper strippfrom either of the rolls 2 or from both rolls as the case may be, is led around an idler roller 6 and then around a power-driven roller 1, from whence it is led to a winding-off roll 8 mounted, by means of a slipping clutch 9a, on a spindle 9 which is also power driven. For the purpose ofldriving the roller 1 and spindle 9, power is supplied in any suitable manner through a shaft I!) mounted in a bearing carried by the frame 4, the shaft being provided with a set of cone pulleys l2 connected by means of a belt l3 with a set of driven cone pulleys l4, mounted on a spindle l5 which carries the roller 1. On the spindle l5 there is also mounted a pulley l6, which serves, by means of a crossed belt I1 and pulley l8, to drive the spindle 9 in the direction required to wind on the paper strip 5. The spindles I5 and 9 revolve at substantially the same speed and the spool or the like which supports the winding-off roll 8 is of such a size that the least radius at which the winding-off operation is carried out is greater than that of the roller 1, the difierence of peripheral speeds which would thus normally occur being allowed for by the slipping clutch through which the roll 8 is driven. This action ensures that the length of paper strip 5 between the roller 1 and the winding-off roll 8 shall be maintained taut.

The application of the metal foil strip to the paper strip 5 is by means of a roll IQ of the metal foil strip mounted on a suitable spool or the like 20 (see Figures 3 and 5) between face plates 2| and 22, the spool being provided with trunnions 23 which extend through slots 24 in the plates 2| and 22. Thus the metal foil roll |9 is mounted immediately above the roller 1 and is in contact with the paper strip, the roll being caused to bear 7 on the paper strip 5 as it passes over the roller 1 with sufficient pressure by means of fingers 25 which rest on the trunnions 23. The fingers 25 are fixed to a spindle 26 which is mounted so as 'to be capable of rocking in vertical plates 21 and 28, the spindle 26 being at its further end bent at right angles as indicated and fitted with a weight not shown, the effect of which is to cause the fingers 25 to exert downward pressure on the trunnions 23 and to maintain the required pressure of the roller IS on the paper strip 5. Owing to the fact that, by means constituting no part of the present invention, and therefore not shown on the drawings, the paper strip 5 has been previously coated with a suitable adhesive, the free end of the metal foil becomes attached to and carried along with the paper strip, becoming unwound from the roll l9.

For the purpose of determining the length of metal foil strip 29 to be applied to the paper strip 5, the latter with the foil strip 29 on its upper surface is passed between two rollers 30, 3| (see Figures 1, 2, 6. and '7), carried by a bridge contact member 32 mounted on two parallel bars 33 which are supported at one end by a member 34 extending from the plate 21 and at the other end by a member 35 supported from the bed plate 4. The bridge contact member 32 is so constructed that it may be adjusted in position to any point along the bars 33. Of the rollers 30 and 3| of the'bridge contact 32, the roller 30 is of metal and so is adapted to make electrical contact with the metal foil strip 29, whereas the statics roller 3| is of insulating material and serves to ensure that the above electrical contact shall be satisfactorily effected. As soon as the forward edge of the metal foil strip 29 carried by the paper strip 5 reaches the contact 30, an electrical circuit is completed, this circuit being illustrated in Figure 4. Direct-current power supply for this circuit is applied to terminals 36, one of which, as shown, is connected to a brush contact 31 which bears on the peripheral surface of the metal foil roll l9. The other terminal 36 is connected to one pole of a solenoid 38, the other pole of which is connected by a flexible lead and a slip-ring contact not shown to the roller 30. Thus, as soon as contact is made as above described between the metal foil strip 29 and the roller 30, the solenoid 38 is excited and serves to arrest rotation of the roll I9. By this action and by reason of the fact that the foil on the paper strip is secured thereto by the adhesive and continues to move with the paper strip, the foil tears or is ruptured along a line immediately beneath the roll |9 at the initial line of contact between the paper and the foil, where the foil is no longer supported by the roll and, being ofaluminum and very weak, owing to its thickness being of the order of 0.006 mm., it is found that the lengths of foil are consistent to within inch.

The mechanism whereby this action is performed is shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 5; the solenoid 38 is mounted in a suitable frame fixed to the plate 2?, through which and through the plate 28 there extend rods 39 in such a manner as to be capable of longitudinal reciprocation through the plates 21 and 28. Astride these rods and pinned thereto is a bridge piece 40 to which an armature 4| for the solenoid 38 is riveted. When the solenoid is unexcited this armature is held away from it by the action of springs 42, which surround the rods 39, the possible movement of the armature 4| and therefore of the rods 39 being determined by adjustment of a set-screw 43, threaded in the plate 28. To the ends of the rods 39 which extend through the plate 2! the plate 22 is attached, and accordingly, on excitation of the solenoid 38, this plate is moved to bear on the metal foil roll l9, which is thereby gripped between the plates 2| and 22, as seen in Figure 5, thus efiecting the desired arrest of its movement, and causing the metal foil strip to be severed, whereby the length thereof applied to the paper strip 5 is determined. This action, however, breaks the sole-' leased and rotation of the metal foil roll |9 would immediately restart so that a new length of metal foil strip would begin to be applied to the paper strip 5 with the intervention of a very small gap. In order that an adequate gap may be formed, there is connected across the solenoid a capacitor 44 which,'on establishment of the above circuit, becomes charged, but when the circuit is broken by severance of the metal foil strip 29 the ca-, pacitor 44 discharges through the solenoid 38, thus maintaining its excitation over a predetermined period according to the value of the capacitor, and correspondingly increasing the length of the gap, In order to provide for variation in the length of gap, further capacitors 45, each provided with a switch 46, may be connected across the terminals of the solenoid 38 so that, by varying the total capacity in circuit across the solenoid, the time that the latter remains excited will be correspondingly varied and he sap len th, may also be effectedby altering. the rate of; travel: of the paper strip by means of theiconeepulley drive l2, l3, M: by a combination of these methods practically any gap length, within the limits: of the apparatus, is obtainable.

In order to allow for the application of metal foil stripof various widthsthe plate 2.! is. made adjustable relatively to the plate 22. For this purpose the former plate is carried by two rods.

41 extending through the plates 21: and 28,. the portionsextending through the latter plate being screwethreaded as shown. On: these portions there are fitted nuts 48 which bear on, the plate 28 on the side remote from the plate 27;. these, nuts-being fitted with chain-wheelses connected by a chain 50. Further, oneof the nuts is provided with a hand-wheel Elywhereby. both the nuts. may be rotated in, synchronism, The nuts 48.are maintained in contact. with: the plate 28 owing to the action of springs 52 which bear respectively on the plateZB and on, collars 53 fittedto the rods 41. By this mechanism the position of the plate 2| relatively to the plate 22 may be so adjusted that, when the solenoid 33 is not excited, the roll [9. is free torevolve, but, on attraction of. thearmature M by the solenoid 33, rotation of the roll I9 is prevented owing to its being gripped between the plates 2i and 22 as above described. Means for mounting rolls 5 and 2 of paper strip 5 of various widths may be provided, such means, not. forming, part of the present invention and it therefore being unnecessary to give description thereof. As regards the passage of the composite strip over the rollers 30 and 3t, of the bridge contact 32, these rollers are made sufficiently wide to allowof thepassage of the widest strip with which the machine is called upon to-deal.

Corresponding to-the above means for dealing with paper and metal foil strip of various widths, means is provided for adjustment of the brush contact 31, bearing on the metal foil roll I9. For this purpose the brush contact 3'! is supported by a pivoted arm 54 of sufficient weight to supply the required bearing pressure of the contact It! on the roll I9. As indicated in Figure 3, the arm 54 is bent at right angles and extends through plates 55 which are pinned to a rod 56 extending through the plates 2'! and 28 and capable of longitudinal adjustment therein. On this rod there is a flat surface 5! upon which there bears a set-screw 58 threaded in the plate 21, whereby the rod 56 is held in any position to which it is adjusted. By this means the position of the brush contact 31 may be adjusted transversely across the surface of the roll l9, so as to bear thereupon whatever may be the width of the metal foil strip composing the roll. Electrical connection to the brush contact 31 is effected by means of a lead sweated into a socket Es attached to the pivoted arm 54.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method of applying successive lengths of metal foil to a single length of paper strip, comprising the steps of winding the metal foil oil from a roll on a continuously fed paper strip while maintaining a pressure contact between the roll and the strip, arresting rotation of the roll when a predetermined length of metal foil has been wound off to effect severance by rupture of the metal foil along the line of said pressure contact, releasing the roll and feeding a further length of metal foil on to the paper strip.

over aisuflicient period of time to produce agap of predeterminedlength between successive lengths of foil applied to the said length oftpaper strip.

3;, Means for applying. successive lengthstof metal foil to asingle length of paper strip coated" with adhesivecomprising a source of said paper strip means for drawing said coated paper-strip continuously from said source, a roll of said metal: foil in contact with said continuously fed paper strip; saidcontact being operative to rotate said roll andunwind said foil on to said paperstrip, and means for arresting rotation of said rollwhereby said foil is severed by tearing along the line' of contact. between the roll and thecoated strip and subsequently releasingsaid roll forfurther rotation.

4.. Means as in claim 3, wherein the arresting. and releasing device is constituted by face platesmounted on opposite sides of the roll and capableof relative movement away from or toward each": other whereby rotation of the. roll is permitted or is arrested by pressure of the faceplates on its sides.

5. Means as in claim 3, wherein the arresting;

contact with. said paper strip, a power-driven roller, andaxwinding-off roll on which saidilength of paper strip and said metal strip in combinationare wound, said windingeofi roll being driven through a slipping clutchat such a speed that but for the intervention of the slippin clutch, the peripheralspeed at which the composite strip is wound on to the winding-off r011 would be greater than that of the paper strip as it passes over said power-driven roller.

7. Means for applying successive lengths of metal foil to a single length of paper strip coated with adhesive comprising a source of said paper strip, means for drawing said coated paper strip continuously from said source, a roll of said metal foil in contact with said continuously fed paper strip, said contact being operative to rotate said roll and unwind said foil on to said paper strip, means for arresting rotation of said roll Whereby said foil is severed by tearing along the line of contact between the roll and the coated strip and subsequently releasing said roll for further rotation, said arresting and releasing device comprising face plates mounted on opposite sides of the roll for movement relative to one another for engagement of the roll therebetween whereby rotation of the roll is permitted or is arrested by pressure of the face plates on its sides, an electric solenoid operated means for effecting the said relative movement of the face plates toward one another for arresting rotation of the metal foil roll, and means for automatically exciting said solenoid.

8. Means as set forth in claim 7, including mechanism operative when a strip of metal foil of predetermined length has been applied to the said length of paper strip to excite said solenoid to :cause movement of one of the face plates toward the other.

9. Means for applying successive lengths of metal foil to a single length of paper strip coated aaeavst with adhesive comprising a source of said paper strip, means for drawing said coated paper strip continuously from said source, a roll of said metal foilin contact with said continuously fed paper strip, said contact being operative to rotate said roll and unwind said foil on to said paper strip, means for arresting rotation of said roll whereby said foil is severed by tearing along the line of contact between the roll and the coated strip and subsequently releasing said roll for further rotation, said arresting and releasing device comprising face plates mounted on opposite sides of the roll for movement relative to one another forlengagement of the roll therebetween whereby rotation of the roll is permitted or is arrested bypressure of the face plates on its sides, an electric solenoid operated means for efiecting the said relative movement of the face plates toward one another for arresting rotation of the metal foil roll, and means for automatically exciting said solenoid to cause movement of 'one of the face plates toward the other comprising mechanism operative when a strip of metal foil of predetermined length has been applied to the said lengthof paper strip, said mechanism including an electrical contact member with which the forward end of the metal foil strip last applied to the said length of paper strip makes contact in the normal course of travel of the composite strip.

.10. Means as set forth in claim 9, wherein the,

said electrical contact member is adjustable relatively to the metal foil roll in the direction of the path of travel of the composite strip.

1. Means for applying successive lengths of metal foil to a single length of paper strip coated with. adhesive comprising a source of said paper strip, means for drawing said coated paper strip continuously from said source, a roll of said metal foil in contact with said continuously fed paper strip, said contact being operative to rotate said by said foil is severed by tearing along the'line of contact between the roll and the coated strip 2 and subsequently releasing said roll for further rotation, said arresting and releasing device comprising face plates mounted on opposite sides of the roll for movement relative to one another for engagement of the roll therebetween whereby rotation of the roll is permitted or is arrested by pressure of the face plates on its sides, an electric solenoid operated means for effecting the said relative movement of the face lates toward one another for arresting rotation of the metal foil roll, and means for automatically exciting said solenoid to cause movement of one of the face plates toward the other, comprisin mechanism, operative when a strip of metal foil of predetermined length has been applied to the said length of paper strip, and means for maintaining said excitation during a predetermined period of time comprising at least two capacitors electrically connected in parallel with said solenoid, and a switch in series with at least one of said capacitors.

PERCY ARCHIBALD SPORING. CHARLES PIERCY JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 918,813 Armstrong Apr. 20, 1909 1,173,170 Cartlidge Feb. 29, 1916 1,860,691 Richard May 31, 1932 2,205,171 Kile et al June 18, 1940 2,255,498 Babillis Sept. 9, 194 1 2,310,071 Frisch Feb. 2, 1943 

